Fly Tying Inventory
Foam Cricket
A highly effective foam-bodied dry fly that mimics the profile of a natural cricket. Built for late summer and fall fishing when crickets are naturally falling into the water near grassy banks. The black foam body provides excellent floatation and a realistic cricket silhouette. Effective for trout, bass, and panfish anywhere crickets are present.
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Materials
Standard dry fly hook (Dai-Riki 300 or similar), sizes 10-14
Black 6/0 or 70 denier
Black 2mm closed-cell craft foam, cut into 1/8-inch strips
Black barred round rubber legs
Natural deer hair
Bright egg yarn (chartreuse, orange, or pink) for visibility
Zap-A-Gap super glue and head cement
How to Tie the Foam Cricket
- 1
Step 1
Cut a 1/8-inch strip of black 2mm craft foam. Mount a size 10-14 dry fly hook in your vise.
- 2
Step 2
Start thread behind the hook eye and wrap back to the start of the bend. Remove the tag end.
- 3
Step 3
Pierce the foam strip with the hook about 1.5 inches from one end and slide it up and out of the way.
- 4
Step 4
Pull the long part of the foam strip onto the underbody. Make a small hole with your bodkin at the hook eye area.
- 5
Step 5
Fold the foam forward for the thorax and secure with thread wraps. Then fold foam back over the hook shank and tie down in segments to create the cricket body shape.
Create 2-3 distinct body segments for a realistic cricket profile.
- 6
Step 6
Tie in two pairs of black rubber legs, one on each side, splaying outward and backward.
- 7
Step 7
Add a small clump of deer hair on top for the wing, extending slightly past the body.
- 8
Step 8
Tie in a short bright segment of egg yarn for the sighter so the fly is visible on the water.
- 9
Step 9
Whip finish at the head and apply head cement. Trim foam to length for the desired cricket profile.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMYkjORXCCs
Credit: Traditional / Orvis